Kyrgyz Reform Movement Threatens Rallies

For Reforms supporters demonstrating in Bishkek in November 2006 (ITAR-TASS)
BISHKEK, March 9, 2007 -- Kyrgyzstan's largest opposition movement today threatened to stage massive rallies against President Kurmanbek Bakiyev unless he carries out reforms to strengthen democratic institutions and fight corruption, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

The For Reforms movement says demonstrators would call for Bakiyev's resignation.

Azimbek Beknazarov, a lawmaker and co-leader of the opposition Asaba (Flag) Party, told RFE/RL that the Kyrgyz president should meet the reform demands.

"If [Bakiev's government] will not meet the demands then, as the For Reforms movement has proved with its previous activities, such as forcing [the president] to sign [the new constitution] on November 9 [last year], we have enough forces," Beknazarov said. "We will give time for [consideration of] the latest demands. If the [government] fails to meet them, then we will take radical steps in future, as well."

In November, the opposition staged a week of protests that forced Bakiyev to authorize constitutional reforms curtailing his powers and giving parliament more authority.

But Bakiyev later pushed through new amendments that restored some of those powers.

(with material from AP)

Understanding Kyrgyzstan

Understanding Kyrgyzstan

Workers preparing for celebrations of the constitutional compromise in Bishkek on November 9 (RFE/RL)